Becoming a homeowner is an exciting event in your life, but with it comes a bit of responsibility that you should be prepared for. Even if you buy a home in pristine condition, it will inevitably need a little TLC after you live in it for a number of years. There is a silver lining though – many of the updates you make throughout your home will benefit you when it comes to its resale value.Depending on the condition of your home when you purchased it and how well you maintain it, the updates you need to make after a decade will vary. However, the eight items below are some of the most common updates that a homeowner will need to make, especially if he or she plans to sell in the near future.
1. Buy new appliances
Sometimes you stumble upon a prize when you’re searching for a home – one with brand new or nearly new appliances. And other times, you fall in love with a home, outdated appliances and all – and decide you’ll replace them eventually. In either scenario, after a certain amount of time passes, you may begin to notice your dishwasher isn’t cleaning dishes as well, your washing machine started leaking or your refrigerator’s ice-maker stopped working properly.
It might seem less intimidating to buy one appliance at a time to avoid putting a big dent into your bank account, but it may be worth checking into buying a full suite of appliances at once since retailers generally will give a hefty discount when you purchase a bundle.
2. Apply a fresh coat of paint
After 10 years of wear and tear, dirt and dust, chances are your walls will look a little dingy. Even if this is something you just do for your own enjoyment, slapping a new coat of paint on the walls can transform a room and give it new life. While you’re at it, don’t forget your home’s exterior – even if you just need to touch up the trim or shutters, new paint can add serious curb appeal.
3. Give your windows and doors some love
Depending on how old your home’s windows and doors are, they may simply need to be replaced. But in most cases, a little DIY project can make all the difference. Re-glaze your windows to keep your heat and air conditioning from seeping through. The seals on your exterior doors will break down over time, but applying new weather stripping can keep the outdoor elements from coming in and keep your indoor heating and cooling from escaping. These are both cost-effective methods to make your home more energy-efficient without spending an arm and a leg to replace windows and doors.
4. Replace the hot water heater
An old hot water heater can cause serious damage to your home if it starts to leak. I can speak from experience, since that situation recently happened at my home. We purchased our house without having any knowledge of the home’s history and unfortunately, found out too late that the hot water heater was in need of replacement. Fortunately, you can often find the manufacture date somewhere on the tank. So go check yours out if you haven’t already, and if it’s been close to 10 years (or more!), go ahead and replace it to be safe.
5. Re-caulk surfaces
This one may not be have been on your radar, but it’s actually something you can do quickly and inexpensively on your own! Not only does new caulking refresh the look of showers, tubs and sinks, but it can also prevent water from leaking in between the cracks.
6. Install new carpet
While flooring might be an expense you’d rather not deal with, sometimes it’s a necessary update for your home. The good news is that newly installed carpet can make a big impact when it comes to selling your home quickly and for full price. And even if you aren’t planning to sell now (or ever), carpet gets dirty and holds in odors after a while, so you really can’t go wrong with putting down new flooring.
7. Replace your garbage disposal
You may heed the advice of putting ice cubes down your garbage disposal to help de-gunk the blades and keep it as clean as possible, but over time, the blade will inevitably wear down and you’ll need to replace it. You’ll probably notice that it needs to be updated when it stops pushing food particles through quickly.
8. Refresh your landscape
If you consistently maintain your yard, you probably won’t have too many updates to make. However, after 10 years go by, you may find that some trees and shrubs have become overgrown or you could use some fresh greenery or flowering plants to increase your home’s curb appeal.
This is an especially important step if you intend to put your home on the market, as the exterior appearance provides the first impression of what your home has to offer.
Owning a home is a rewarding experience, and investing a bit of your time and money into it can really pay off in the form of adding value to your home and saving on energy costs.
